A wise man fights to win, but he is twice a fool who has no plan for possible defeat.

-Louis L'Amour

Coco Spencer's POV

The day of the photoshoot finally arrived. I prepared early for breakfast for this day. It's been a week since Rafe and I resumed our relationship and much to my dismay I think he's quite serious about not asking me in marriage.

I gritted my teeth. I was starting to get annoyed about his constant refusal. We both love each other and I don't see any reason for us not to wed again. Don't get me wrong, I've already asked him to marry me countless times now and his answered were all the same—a flat 'no'. I have enough of this nonsense.

Enough is enough, I thought with such conviction.

Pouring his cup of freshly brewed coffee, I placed it a little harshly in front of him. I also glared at him intensely while he was so occupied reading the broadsheets. When his cup nearly shattered at the impact I created he managed to remove damn eyes away from the paper he'd been reading. He smiled cordially at me. "My...did you wake up at the wrong side of the bed, darling?"

"No," I answered tartly, taking the opposite chair across to him. I started to dig my breakfast with a vengeance that's when it dawned to me that I would have my revenge at his annoying attitude about marrying me again. "I'm in a fine mood, honey. Have you forgotten that today is the photoshoot I promised Lucia the other week?"

"Oh?" He inquired offhandedly, focusing his gaze again at the papers in his hand. "Then why do you keep on sending me acid glare since we woke up?"

"I'm not doing such a thing." I denied fiercely.

"Trust me you are."

I sipped my coffee, gauging his reaction from the rim of my cup. "You don't want to come with me and supervise the photoshoot I will be doing? I'm pretty sure you want to oversee these things since I will be modeling wedding gowns."

He glanced in my direction briefly. "I'm sorry I can't go with you today. I will be very busy at the office. I am finalizing a business deal."

My blood started to boil at his nonchalant reply. I would want to do something violent with this man but I fear I would end up in jail. "Aren't you at least worried that Lucia might pair me to a super hot male model?"

"Not in the least," He answered with the same annoying smile on his lips. What the hell was wrong with him? I was started to lose my sanity in dealing with him. "I'm sure if that happens you will have striking photos together but I'm not jealous since I know at the end of the day you're still mine, right?"

"What if I will be attracted to him? What if I decided to start an affair with him? What will you do then?" I queued at him.

He smirked in my direction, so bloody sure of his power over me. "You will not do such thing, mia amore." He pointed my chest with his index finger. "I own that thing that beats in your chest as we speak. I know you love me as much as I love you."

I couldn't help the smile slipping on my face. Sometimes he knew how to keep me shut with his cheesy comebacks. But I reminded myself that I should not be swayed by his smooth-talking tongue. I eyed him cursory. "Why are you still slouching here? Aren't you yet late for work? I thought you said you have a very busy day ahead of you? Or you are planning to come with me at the end?"

"My lovely ex-wife is throwing me out again in my own house." He mused out loud. He raised an eyebrow in my direction. "But don't worry. I'm already late so lingering a little bit more for breakfast will not hurt."

I gaped at him in surprise. "What are you talking about? It's not nine in the morning yet. How can you be late for the office?"

Closing the newspaper he'd been reading he focused his full attention on me. A self-mocking smile flashed on his face. "Since you move in here I'm always late, my love. The office starts at 8 am and my lovely ex-wife prepares for breakfast quarter past eight in the morning."

My mouth was left hanging at his announcement. "Why didn't tell me so I adjusted my time? Now I feel guilty about it. I thought I was just in time before you leave for work."

"It's fine," He replied, his eyes twinkled with delight. "My secretary got used to my tardiness. I think she finds it amusing, actually." He stood from his chair. "Well, I'm off."

My eyes widened at him. "You're really going to the office?"

"Yes," He gave me an innocent smile but I knew better not to fall for it. This man was cryptic lately I should be on my guard always. He walked towards me and lifted my chin so he could kiss me on the lips. "Have fun later in the photoshoot. Break a leg."

"It's your leg that I want to break right now," I muttered under my breath.

Rafe laughed heartily. "That's the spirit, love."

I watched him walk away from the kitchen but before he could get further away I called after him. "I will send you the wedding picture of me and my hunk partner."

I heard him chuckled, he waved his hand without looking. "I will be waiting, cara mia."

By the time he went out of the door, I was already fuming angry. I dialed Lucia's number and asked her when I should meet her. After I disconnected the phone call I ran to the stairs and pack my thing I would make sure Rafe would regret this day in his life.

Fifteen minutes later, I was in the car and on my way to the location area. I was dead set to make Rafe jealous about this pictorial thing. When I arrived at the Grand Hotel Villa Giulia I was amazed at the grandeur of the place. Palace turned hotel that's how I described it precisely situated at the heart of Ragusa it was a picture-perfect place with its renaissance structure, lush green garden overlooking the beautiful ocean. This place could be considered a luxury hotel.

It didn't take me long to notice the white tent in the garden area where Lucia was waving madly at me. I waved back at her and marched into the tent.

"I'm so glad you are finally here," The fashion designer slash good friend of mine said after giving me a friendly hug. "I thought you will not be able to make it on time."

"Sorry," I replied with an apologetic smile. I couldn't help but notice how elegantly decorated the whole place was. It's like there was a wedding today than a mere photoshoot for Lucia's collection. "Did you and your crew wait long? I'm so sorry for the delay."

She waved her hand dismissively. "That's okay, what matters now is that you are here and we can finally start. Are you ready about this?"

I nodded with such determination inside me. My sole purpose for this photoshoot was to make Rafe jealous to whoever man I would be pair later about time to get my revenge on him. "I'm surprised that you chose this place, Lucia. I bet this place cost so much. I thought you said you're on a tight budget why choose such a luxury place as the backdrop."

She smiled at me that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I found a sponsor for this place so don't worry." She led me to the chair with a professional make-up table. "Come, we should start with your make-up." Lucia had people assigned to do my make-up and hair at the same time. She left me for a moment to get the most fabulous wedding gown I've ever seen in my life. "What do you think?"

I admired the fabric and ran my fingers to it. "It's so beautiful. You have a talent for designing wedding gowns. Which reminds me..." I shot her a determined look. "...we need to slay this photoshoot whatever happens."

"That's the fiery spirit, girl. I'm curious, though. What's with this burning determination? If recalled correctly you were reluctant to do this last week. What's with the change of heart? Not that I'm complaining, don't get me wrong."

I stared at her with anger that was directed at my cold-hearted ex-husband. I would show him what jealousy tastes like. "I hope you will pair me later with a super gorgeous hunk so my annoying ex-husband will take back his words awhile ago."

"Jesus..." Lucia gaped at me in astonishment.

"And I hope later after we're done to this you will give me a copy of pictures so I can show it to him."

She gave me a sympathetic look as she hangs the gown in the rack nearby. "I think that can be arranged later after we're done."

"Good." I nodded with satisfaction. I could already smell my victory by the end of this day. Oh, you'd be better prepared Rafe Moretti. Finally, you would have the taste of your own medicine my sweet ex-husband.

Lucia bid her goodbye again. She informed me that she wants to supervise the decorations in the chapel at the side of the hotel. I frowned at my reflection in the mirror in front of me. If she was on a tight budget how come this wedding pictorial looks more expensive than a billionaire's wedding?

But I didn't have time to dwell on my thoughts. I just focus and mentally preparing myself for the photoshoot later. I need to slay thing more than a supermodel could achieve. I would teach that man that no one says no to me ever!

After half an hour of enduring the make-up and hair session, I was finally ready. "You look like a real supermodel," Lucia commented. I couldn't miss the satisfaction in her eyes examining me closely. I noticed that she change her clothes from her casual attire a while ago to this cocktail dress. "Your eyes stand out with the smoky eye shadow they use even your hair looks fantastic. This will be good. Now all you need to do is fit into the gown I created and we're going to start."

I nodded absently. She led me to the dressing room and helped me fit the gown. Once the fabric slid to my skin I felt shivered suddenly I felt nervous about this whole thing.

"Are you alright?" Lucia asked concernedly. "You paled suddenly."

I tried to give her a reassuring smile. Seriously, I asked myself. What's wrong with me why I was acting like this? Is not as if this would be my wedding—just damn photos shoot for this woman in front of me. "I'm fine."

Lucia gave me a sly smile. "You look like a woman who is having wedding jitters."

I scowled at her. "Do you want to find yourself in the middle of a pictorial without a model, Lucia?"

"Of course, not." She said with such a straight face. She helped me button the down at the back and I was amazed to see myself with such a beautiful wedding gown much classier and had more details than the gown I wore when I wed Rafe. "Now for the finale the veil."

She put the long veil with lace edges at the top of my head and secured the simple tiara in my head. Seriously, I felt like I was Kate Middleton as of this moment with such elaborate wedding finery. Lastly, my fashion designer friend presented the red bouquet to me.

"Good," She said in awe, examining me from head to toe. "Now you are ready for this special day, Coco. Come, let's start this photoshoot."

She led me outside the tent and the warm breezy of the ocean outside greeted me. As I walked on the beautifully decorated garden of the palace I couldn't help but notice how the long veil dance with the air. "You spared nothing for this thing, Lucia," I commented as the photographer instructed me to pose at the side of the fountain. "Did you rent the whole place? I can't see other people besides your crew."

"Believe me," She said, standing beside the photographer looking at the monitor where my photos automatically save. "My clients only want what's best for any kind of wedding."

The photographer instructed me with different poses, candid shots, looking straight at the camera, stolen shots, looking down at my bouquet smiling, turning around slightly, and many more while he didn't stop capturing every moment. Goodness, this was more exhausting than it looks.

"I think that's enough for this area." Lucia decided, "Let's try in the chapel."

"Will you pair me with a gorgeous model now?" I asked hopefully.

Lucia gave me cryptic smile. "I think that can be arranged." She marched to my side and we walk where the chapter was located. If I expected it to be empty I was mistaken for there was a good amount of people gathered outside.

I stopped walking which made Lucia stop also. "I don't think we should use that chapel now we can go back later. It seems that there is a mass or wedding ceremony."

She gently touched my hand in a reassuring way. "Yeah, there's a wedding. Your wedding, actually. Come everybody is waiting for us."

"What?" I stood rooted in my place. My brain hadn't yet translated the words Lucia said to me so casually. Whose wedding again? Mine? B-but...how with whom? Then it dawned on me those entire secretive smiles of... "Rafe..."

"Yes," The woman beside me chuckled cheerfully. "Your groom is patiently waiting for you inside that chapel. Nervous as hell, I might add."

When I stayed rooted in my place. Lucia led me inside the church slowly. Then the people outside the chapel became recognizable to me. They were friends and family. Heck, even my parents were here.

"Are you surprise?" My mother asked with a smile on her face.

I nodded absently accepting their hugs and kisses. I noticed Leila grinning ear-to-ear at the side with her husband even their friends and their wives were there. Somehow even if my head was still spinning at the event happing around me I caught the glimpse of him standing at the altar looking sinfully handsome in his tuxedo smiling at me. That man...I thought with tears in my eyes. How did he do this I have no idea.

"Let's start?" Lucia announced and the people surrounded me walked away taking seats on the pew inside. "Can you walk?" She whispered to my ears.

I nodded and she signaled someone and I heard the wedding march. Oh my God, I am getting married today to Rafe. I somehow managed to summon my legs to move and I found myself walking towards the man I love. Halfway walking on the aisle everything sinks into me. I couldn't help the tears that feel like waterfalls in my eyes.

"Goodness!" I heard Lucia exclaimed to her sister-in-law. "She's ruining her make-up."

"Maybe she wants to get married looking like a raccoon," Leila replied seriously. If I wasn't so nervous I would laugh at her sardonic comment.

At last, I reached the altar where Rafe was waiting. "So," He said with a smile. He took my hand and squeezed it. "How's your partner for this wedding? Is he a super hot man?"

I was crying and laughing at the same time. Trust him to joke at times like this. "Yes, he's a gorgeous hunk which I happened to love so much."

"I love you more," He whispered to me. "Do you think I'm such a fool to let you go? I'm snagging your hand in marriage before you have the chance to think twice about me."

Before I could reply we heard the priest cleared his throat. "Shall we start?"

We turned to face him with a smile. My hand was still twined with Rafe's finger. I would never release this hand ever again. "Yes."

He cleared his throat one last time before starting the ceremony. "We are gathering here today..."